MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian and Uruguayan Foreign Ministers to Meet every Three Months

Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and his counterpart Luis Almagro during a press conference

Brazilian and Uruguayan Foreign Ministers Antonio Patriota and Luis Almagro have agreed to hold bilateral meetings every three months they announced during a press conference in Uruguay. The ministers met to discuss the forthcoming meeting between Uruguayan President Jose Mujica and his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff, scheduled for the first week of February.

During a press conference following a meeting between President Mujica and the foreign ministers in Montevideo, the ministers explained that the two countries rectified their commitment to hold bilateral reunions every three months, with the aim of strengthening and diversifying matters the two countries have in common.

Almagro informed that a Science and Technology and Education and Culture reunion will be held in the second half of this year, as agreed last June. He added the colleagues also discussed agreements and opportunities to increase business in the areas of digital television, naval and cars.

They also announced the launch of a tender in three months’ time for a bridge over the Yaguaron River linking the Brazilian town Santana do Livramento with Rivera in Uruguay as part of the South American infrastructure integration initiative. The cost is an estimated U$12 million.

Almagro added that Patriota’s visit shows that the bilateral relationship is very important to both Brazil and Uruguay.

Patriota outlined that he received a very warm welcome from the Uruguayan President and Ministers and that to both Brazil and Uruguay 2010 was a very positive year regarding economic growth. He added that their last meeting in Foz de Iguazu is proof that they are both capable of strengthening their ties and of being objective as far as their relationship is concerned.

Other matters discussed include border integrations, cooperation in numerous areas and interests in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil regarding the creation of a peace zone and cooperation in the South Atlantic. They concluded by informing that a seminar is going to be organised in Rio de Janiero to discuss aspects of bilateral relations over the next twenty years.

Patriota concluded indicating that no date has been scheduled yet for President Rousseff’s visit to Uruguay.